The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-04-25
GOLD SPOT LAID TO REST.
The Biography of Gen. Kilpatricks
Famous War Horse.

"OldSpot,n Gen. Kilpatricl1s famous war
horse, died last week at Deckertown, n. j.,
of old age, and was buried with military
houors on the fitzpatrick homestead near
there.
"Old Spots history has been oft written.
lie is credited with having passed UNI
scathed through all the battles fought by
the army of the Potomac, and to have
marched with Sherman to the sea His
latest biographer says that his exact age
and pedigree are unknown, but that he is be
lieved to have been of Arabian extraction
and about 80 years old At the time of his
death he was the oldest horse known to have
been used by any General in the
war. In his will Gen. Xii
patrick ordered that "Old Spot"
should be kept ON the homestead and cared
! for until his death. The Generals executors
refused many tempting offers for the old
horse from parties desiring him for exhibit
ton purposes
so much of fiction has been woven into
the history of cold Spots" life that his true
origin has almost been lost sight Of. The
| fact is Spot" was in none of the battles Of
the Potomac, and he was never on Northern
soil until the close of the war. Instead of
marching with Sherman to the sea, " he
only marched with Sherman from the sea.
The widow of the late DR.. j. r. Johnson
who was a well-known physician in Bryan
| county twenty years ago, is now a resident
of this city. When Sherman arrived at the
sea Mrs. Johnson and her husband resided
upon their plantation at Bryan Neck, be
tween Midway and Bear rivers This is
the identical spot from which Sherman sig
nailed the Federal fleet with bonfires and the
firing OF cannon Upon his arrival there
Gen. fitzpatrick occupied the Johnson resi-
dence as his headquarters. The doctor was
n wealthy gentleman and successful
farmer as well as physician,
and the plantation was well stocked
with cattle, hogs and horses. 1t was here
that Gen. Fitzpatrick first beheld his "fam-
ous war horse" then without a name. DR.
johnson had bought the horse from mem
Der of McAllister's battalion, then stationed
at the Neck and his remarkable color,
! combined with his admirable qualities, gave
him notoriety and high value in the estima-
ton of his new master. 1t was not strange,
therefore, that Gen. Fitzpatrick should have
chosen this gallant steed to bear him on his
march.
Mrs. johnson describes the horse as a
light cream colored stallion, thickly dotted
over with small, brown spots, prominent
eyes and scant, short name
Spot" for that was the name
given him by Gen. fitzpatrick, did not
long remain i'll the possession of the gallant
Federal General. He was captured by But
ler's cavalry near Fayetteville, N. c., in the
little surprise frgsl which Fitzpatrick escaped
in his draweISs and night shirt two weeks be
fore the surrender ut Greensboro.
A msfnber OF Cobbs Legion, who took
the horse from eof Gen KilpatricIs staff,
was riding the animal at Greensboro, when
his former owner recognized him and offered
two other fine horses for him. The "swap"
was made, and after the surrender Kilpat-
rick took Spot North with him. His last
public appearance was at Port Jervis, n. Y.
whore he was a leading figure in a Fourth of
July celebration year ago.